The KTM X-Bow is the automotive equivalent of a peanut butter and bacon sandwich: most people would look at it and simply say, “pass”. You know it’s not good for you, and sooner or later it’ll probably kill you, but others find themselves sucked in like a moth to a flame. Peanut butter and bacon sandwiches may have helped Elvis to an early grave, but the KTM X-Bow would have done the same thing. Of course he would have died in better shape, but that’s a topic for another time.

2011 KTM X-Bow R prototype. Photo: KTM

So let’s say you’re KTM, and you want to make your four wheeled peanut butter and bacon sandwich even better. How do you do this? You add more bacon, of course and go even heavier on the peanut butter. For 2011, KTM has done just that, giving us another 60 horsepower from the Audi derived motor, and tweaking the already stellar suspension on the X-Bow R. The X-Bow R will be sending 300 horsepower to the rear wheels for 2011, and will come in the buyer’s choice of models: Sport will be road legal, while Race will be set up for no-holes barred performance at the expense of licensing for street use. For U.S. buyers, that’s kind of a moot point since the X-Bow is available “for off-road use only”, starting at a base price of around $55,000.

2011 KTM X-Bow prototype. Photo: KTM

Current X-Bow owners aren’t out of luck, either, since most of the go-fast parts used on 2011 models will be available for purchase through KTM’s PowerParts program. Just in case your 240 horsepower, 1,738 pound X-Bow doesn’t light your wick any more, it’s encouraging to know you can make it faster with genuine KTM parts.

KTM didn’t include details on pricing or availability of the new models (or the much anticipated, U.S. road legal version), but promised an update early next year. I’ll keep you posted.

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